MUDA ‘scam’: Rahul Gandhi’s silence on developments against Siddaramaiah surprises many
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is under scrutiny after Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot granted permission for his prosecution in a case involving the alleged illegal acquisition of property through the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The decision has sparked controversy, particularly within the Congress party, as former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has yet to comment on the matter, leading to speculation about the reasons behind his silence.
The case against Siddaramaiah has drawn significant attention, with Congress members in Karnataka expressing their strong support for the Chief Minister. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi’s lack of response has led to widespread rumors and raised questions about his stance on the issue. The Congress leadership, including National President Mallikarjun Kharge, has also remained relatively quiet, with Kharge stating that he was unaware of the details when the Governor granted permission for prosecution.
The situation has escalated, with the Governor facing backlash from Congress members, prompting him to enhance security measures at the Raj Bhavan. Siddaramaiah, along with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, is expected to meet the Congress High Command, including Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi to discuss the case and seek support from the party's top leaders. The meeting is seen as crucial for Siddaramaiah, who aims to secure his position as Karnataka CM even if a First Information Report (FIR) is filed against him.
The silence from Rahul Gandhi has been particularly noticeable, especially after he condemned the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata, which led to a sharp response from Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders. TMC leaders had questioned whether Rahul Gandhi would ask Siddaramaiah to resign if the corruption allegations were proven. However, Rahul Gandhi did not respond to these comments.
Within Karnataka, Siddaramaiah continues to receive strong backing from his colleagues, with several ministers emphasizing the need for support from the high command to prevent any destabilization attempts by the Opposition. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who has previously expressed interest in the Chief Minister's position, has publicly stood by Siddaramaiah, asserting that the CM will complete his full five-year term. Siddaramaiah's son, Yathindra, also voiced concerns about the potential impact of the case on the state government.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
